The author is a Forbes contributor. The opinions expressed are those of the writer.

Loading ...

Loading ...

This story appears in the {{article.article.magazine.pretty_date}} issue of {{article.article.magazine.pubName}}. Subscribe

Collaborating as a team can be a real challenge. Getting everybody on the same page, assigning tasks, following up on pending items, and making sure everyone is always in the loop is never easy, and it is something almost all companies struggle with.

And as if collaborating in a team wasn’t hard enough, when deciding on which collaboration suite to use, you have an overwhelming abundance of options to choose from! But before you start taking a look at individual tools, it is a good idea to first determine what type of collaboration tool suits your team best – according to these five main types:

1. The Gantt Chart – For Time-Sensitive and Calendar-Based Projects

Gantt Charts are best for projects that are timetable dependent. Their layout in timeline format allows you to stay on top of your deadlines, and keep an overview of the progress of the project.

Two great collaboration suites that use the Gantt Chart principle as a foundation are TeamGantt and Teamweek. Each tool has its advantages, where you can manage every team member’s work load and log the progress of their tasks.

TeamGantt

Teamweek

2. The Kanban Chart – For Projects That Run In Crucial Stages

While there may be projects that have lots of tasks happening at the same time, there are others in which certain stages have to be completed before the team can move on to the next phase of the project. For such projects, there are collaboration suites in Kanban Chart style available on the market.

Kanban Charts allow you to create “tickets” and move each ticket from stage to stage individually. Two collaboration tools that profit from this approach are Trello and Blossom.io. You’ll find it easy overseeing your project stages now, while each ticket holds all the information you need for further details.

3. The To-Do List – For Projects With Clear Tasks

When you are working on a project that has very straightforward tasks attached to it, it may not be necessary to venture out and look for a all-in-one collaboration suite.

When it comes to checking off your to-do list, nothing is better than a simple yet efficient tool. With Wunderlist or Kickoff, you are completely covered. A simple interface, some important components, and that’s it. No complexity, no distraction. Plus you can collaborate with your teammates just like anywhere else, so that your to-do lists will shrink even faster!